Group finds coal dust standards ‘below best practice’

QUEENSLAND'S standards when it comes to coal dust "lag behind the rest of the world" according to Communities Protecting Our Region.

At a conference last Sunday the state ALP passed a motion to call for the covering of coal train wagons, trucks and stockpiles.

CPR spokeswoman Ellen Roberts said there was widespread community concern about the amount of coal dust coming from the existing ports and how much that would increase if Dudgeon Point was given the green light.

"We conducted an audit and found that Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay were both well below international best practice, particularly in relation to covering of stockpiles and conveyors," Ms Roberts said.

"We certainly think the existing ports could be doing much better."

Ms Roberts said there were currently proposals in Western Australian and the United States to build enclosed coal terminals.

"The State Government really need to lift its game on air quality," she said.

"They should not be approving developments that are going to mean a huge increase in air pollution for this area."

For the 2011-2012 financial year, Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay produced 501 tonnes of PM10 pollution.

PM10 particles, which are about one fifth of a human hair, have been linked to heart disease and raspatory problems.